Filing cabinet and receptacle forming a part thereof



Aug. 2, 1938.

E S. ROSCOE' FILING CABINET AND RECEPTACLE FORMING A PART THEREOF 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENT? ATTORNEY Filed July 14, 1933 9 E. s. RoscoE 2,125,813

FILING CABINET AND RECEPTACLE FORMING A PART THEREOF Filed July 14, 1933 2 Sh'eets-Sheet 2 VENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 2, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" FILING CABINET AND RECEPTACLE FORM- ING PART THEREOF Application July 14, 1933, Serial No. 680,440

Claims.

This invention relates to filing cabinets and more particularly to transfer cases. v

It is customary to make transfer cases of inexpensive material and of inexpensive construction, and for this reasonsuch' cases are now commonly made of corrugated board, pasteboard or like material. In as much as these transfer cases must be stacked one upon another and are also subjected to rather rough usage, it is necessary to construct them in such a manner and to reinforce them in such a way, that they will not deterharate rapidly in use. L

It is therefore, the purpose of the present invention to provide transfer cases of pasteboard material which are rugged in construction and which lend themselves to stacking and yet preserve a large measure of the sturdiness and neat appearance of cabinets which have been made from sheet metal.

In accordance with one feature of the invention, a drawer for such-a transfer case is made from a single blank of sheet material formed and folded in such a manner that the drawer is reinforced by gussets of double thickness, one thickness extending from the side and one extending from the end of the drawer. This construction provides a stronger and more rigid drawer than former constructions wherein the reinforcing gussets of double thickness have both layers of the material forming the gusset extend either from an end or from a side of the drawer.

A further feature of the invention relates to a channel-shaped reinforcing border-for the case and to a novel arrangement for locking this border on the case without the need of expensive riveting operations.

Still another feature of the invention relates to the construction of such a reinforcing border by which the border of one case interlocks with the border of another in such a manner that a stack of cases is held in vertical alinement.

An additional feature of the invention relates to a novel method of making a narrow overlapped fold of corrugated material without breaking the free edge of the folded material.

These and other features of the invention will appear from the detailed description and claims when taken with the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a stack of transfer cases in which the uppermost case of the stack is elevated above the stack to illustrate how the cases may be piled one above the other and still be retained in exact alinement; Fig. 2 is a. view, par- Figs. 3,4, and 5 represent successive steps in the method of folding this blank to form a drawer; Fig. 6 is a transverse cross sectional view showing how a bottom pad holds the several flaps of the drawer in folded position; Fig. 7 is an enlarged 5 comer detail of a section similar to' that shown in Fig. 6 but indicating more clearly how the mentioned bottom pad holds the various flaps of the drawer in'pcsition; Fig. 8 shows a blank suitably cut and scored preparatory to forming a case for 10 the drawer; Figs. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate the successive steps of folding this last mentioned blank to form the case; Figs. 12 and 13 represent difierent perspective views of a metal reinforcing border for the case; Fig. 14 is a sectional detail -15 view indicating the manner in which the reinforcing border is locked in position on the case; Figs. 15 and 16 representsectional detail views of modified arrangements indicating the finished form of the case with respect to the reinforcing 0 border; and Fig. '17 is a perspective view of a stacking base.

Referring especially to Fig. 1, 5 generally indicates a stack of four transfer cases 6, I, 8 and 9 with the case 9 slightly elevated above the. remainder of the stack to show how these cases are held interlocked in vertical alinement. These cases respectively have drawers II), II, I2 and 13.

A stacking base 4, which will be further described hereinafter, is illustrated as being slightly spaced below the lower drawer.

Each drawer is made from a blank of pasteboard or like material shaped and scored as shown in Fig. 2. This blank has a bottom section 16, front section H, and a reinforcing front section I8, provided with lateral front section flaps I9 and 20. The blank also includes a rear section 2i and a reinforcing rear section 22, likewise provided with lateral rear section flaps 23 and 24.

In addition, the blank is cut with a side section 25 to which there is attached a reinforcing side section 26. At the ends of the side section 25 there is joined a side section front flap 21 and a side section rear flap 28, both of which flaps have a medial line of scoring. At the opposite edge of the bottom section t there is also provided a side section 29 to which there is joined the reinforcing side section 30. Side section it is also provided with a side section front flap iii and side section rear flap 32 both having a medial line of scoring; It should be noted that the sides 25 and IB hag'e gussets respectively designated 25a, 25b, and 2 'a and 2912, while the from. section flaps l9 and 20 respectively have gusset portions its as and 20a, and the rear section flaps 23 and 24 respectively have gusset portions 23b and 24b.

In the forming of the blank, the side section front flaps 21 and 3| as well as the side section rear flaps 28. and 32 are each folded along the medial line of scoring, indicated by a dotted line, and the contacting faces of each flap are adhesively fastened together. In making the drawer from this blank, the side section 25 is folded along the line of scoring 33 as indicated in Fig. 3, to a position at right angles to the bottom I6, and the side section 29 is similarly folded along the line of scoring 34 to a position at right angles to the bottom. Thereafter, the side section front flaps 21 and 3| are respectively folded along the lines of scoring 35 and 36 at right angles with respect to both the side sections and the bottom. For convenience in holding the blank thus formed in its partially assembled condition, a double pointed tack or staple 38 is inserted into the material of the flaps 21 and 3| to bridge the abutting edges thereof. Similarly the side section rear flaps 28 and 32 are folded into a position at right angles to the side sections and to the bottom section, while the abutting edges of these flaps are held in folded position by a staple similar to 38. In the further assembling of the drawer, the front I1 is folded on the line of scoring 39 as indicated in Fig. 4 into engagement with the folded flaps 21 and 3|, that is at right angles to the bottom it. Thereafter, the lateral flaps l9 and 20 carried by the front reinforcing section i8, are folded respectively on the lines of scoring M1 and 4| at right angles to the reinforcing section I8. At this point the front reinforcing section with thelateral flaps l9 and 20 carried thereby, is folded on the lines of scoring 42 to engage the inside of the side section flaps 21 and 3| and with the lateral flaps l9 and 20 engaging respectively the inner surface of the side sections 25 and 29. From the foregoing, it will be seen that the front section |1 engages the front side of the flaps 21 and 3|, while the reinforcing front section engages the inside of these mentioned flaps.

The rear of the drawer is similarly formed by folding the rear section 2| on the line of scoring 43 into a position at right angles to the bottom section l5 and the lateral flaps 23 and 24 onthereinforcing rear section 22, are respectively folded on the lines of scoring 44 and 45 into positions similar to that indicated in Fig. 4. The reinforcing rear section 22 may now be folded on the lines of scoring 45 so that this reinforcing rear section 22 engages the inside of the side section flaps 28 and; 32 and so that the lateral flaps 23 and 24 respectively engage the inside of the sides 25 and 29. At this stage (see Fig. 5) the reinforcing side sections 25 and 30 are respectively folded on the lines of scoring 41 and 43 to engage respectively the inside surfaces of'side sections 25 and 29. The reinforcing side section 26 now engages the inside. surface of the lateral flaps l9 and 23, while the reinforcing side section 30 engages the inside of the lateral flaps 20 and 24. A sheet or pad 49 of relatively thick corrugated pasteboard is now laid on the bottom section IS with its edges engaging the reinforcing side sections 25 and 301' as well as the reinforcing sections 56, 51 and with the end flap 58.

of material, one such as |9a forming a part of the reinforcing flap l9 which is bent into parallel relation with the side 25, and the other gusset portion 25a. extending up from the side 25 and reinforcing the front end of the case by means of a flap 21. This flap extends from this gusset and the side 25 and is bent at right angles to these parts into parallel relation to the front end. Similarly the other front corner of the case is reinforced by the gusset portions 20a and 29a while the rear corners of the case are respectively reinforced by the gusset portions 23b, 25b and 24b, 29b.

The drawer may be finished by inserting the threaded ends of screws (not shown) through the perforations in handle5il, through the perforations 5| in the drawer front i1, through register openings in the side section flaps 21 and'3i and through the registered openings in the front reinforcing section i8, in which position the handle is held by nuts (not shown) engaging the screws. Washers (likewise not shown) of relatively large diameters under the nuts and handle reinforce the pasteboard against the push or pulls of the handles 50. Handle 5| in addition to functioning as a drawer pull, thus serves the additional purpose of keeping the drawer front in assembled condition.

The case for the drawer is formed from a blank shown in Fig. 8. This blank includes a bottom section 55 provided at its sides with reinforcing This bottom section is joined by an end section 59 to the top section 60, which has joined thereto the side section BI and 62. The side section 3| has joined thereto at one end the'reinforcing flap 53 and at its other end a portion 64 constituting an inturned edge. This portion is provided with an extension 65 which is subsequently cut off as will be further set forth. The side section .52 at one end is provided with a reinforcing flap 56 and at its other end with a portion 61 constituting an inturned edge. This portion likewise has an extension 58 which is subsequently cut ed. The top section 60 is similarly provided with a portion 69 also having an extension 10 to be subsequently removed.

In forming the case, the end flap 63 is folded back on itself along the line of scoring 1| and the folded parts are glued together. The end flap 66 is likewise folded back on itself along the line of scoring 12 and the folded parts are glued in this position. Subsequently the end flaps 53 and 56 are folded at right angles respectively to the sides 6| and 62 on the lines of scoring 13 and 14 as best shown in Fig. 9. Thereafter, the side sections BI and 52 are folded on the lines of scoring 11 and 18 to a position at right angles to the top section 50. The top 60, side sections 6| and 62, and reinforcing sections 63 and 55 are now raised on the score line 190. as an axis as shown in Fig. 9 until the top 50 is at a right angle with the end 59. The side reinforcing members 55 and 51 are bent at slightly more than degrees to the bottom 55 so that they can be easily enclosed by the side sections 5| and 62 (Fig. 10). The

side sections, back and top are then rotated on the score line 19 until the edges of the side reinforcing sections 51 and 55 engage the top of the case. The portions 64, 59 and 51 are now respectively folded on the lines of scoring 30, 3| and 32 (see Fig. 11). .It has been mentioned that these porgated or other thick pasteboard material, it is not possible to make a short fold without breaking the cut edge of the material or separating its laminated structure. In accordance with the present invention, a novel method of making a short fold isprovided. In this method, the extensions 65, UL-and 68 remain until the flaps are folded along scores 80, 8i and 82. After these scores have once been folded and unfolded, the excess material 65, 18 and 68 can be cut off. As a result, the short flaps 88, 88 and 85 can be again folded in the assembly of the case along the line already established without separation of layers of pasteboard or corrugated material at the cut edge of the flap.

In order to hold the portions in the mentioned folded positions and in order to give rigidity to Sthecases when. stacked and further to hold the stacked cases in vertical alinement, a metallic border such as shown in Figs. 12 and 13 is provided for each case. This border. is stamped from sheet metal and is subsequently folded into channel form. Thereafter the border is bent to provide a vertical portion 88, a horizontal portion 81 and a second vertical portion 88. This channel-shaped border is reinforced at its upper corners byT-shaped plates of-metal 89, each having an extension 90 which is welded to the front face of the vertical border portion and an extension 9I, which is welded to the front face of the horizontal border portion. Each plate is further provided with an upward extension 92 of a width about equal to the width of the channel space in the border portions 86 and 88, so that these extensions serve to interlock one border with an adjacent border to hold the stack of cases against misalinemnt in certain directions. The lower ends of the vertical portions 88 and 88 are respectively provided with feet 93 and 94 on which the case may stand. The front edges 93aand 94a. of these feet are positioned in a plane spaced a distance from the plane of the inner surfaces of the fronts of vertical portions 86 and 88, about equal to the thickness of extensions 98 (Fig. 13). In this manner the cases are held against misalinement in the direction of movement of the drawers.

The border is first made up with its channel sides slightly opened as indicated in Fig. 14 so that it can be telescoped over the portion 64, 89 and 61. It should be pointed out that the inside flange 88a of the channel-shaped vertical portion 88 has its free edge 88b folded back on itself, so that this edge of the folded part engages the edge of the folded over portion 61 of the case. The horizontal portion 81 and the vertical portion 88 of the border have their inside flanges similarly constructed to engage the edges of the portions Hand 64 to lock the border on the case.

v As shown in Fig. 15, the portion 61 is formed in overlapping relation with the edge of the reinforcing side flap 51, the overlapping edges of these parts being crushed to adapt them to the channel space between the flanges of the channel portions such as 88. In Fig. 16 showing another embodiment of the invention the part 61 is cut to such" length that its edge lies in the same plane as the adjacent edge of the reinforcing flap 51. It is found that when the reinforcing border is fastened in place in either of these ways,

the border is so securely retained on the case that it cannot be removed therefrom without mutilating the material of the case. By reason of this secure fastening and by reason of the rigidity of the metallic border, the front of the case is retained in rigid rectangular form. This border also serves to protect the case from the usual wear incidental to the insertion in and withdrawal of the drawer from its case during use.

The inside folded edge, that is the fold between the portions designated 88a and 88b of the channel border shown in Fig. 14, also serves as a stop for the accidental, complete withdrawal of the drawer, since the top back edge of the drawer will catch at this fold unless the drawer is drawn straight out or tipped up slightly.

In Fig. 17 there is illustrated an enlarged view .of the stacking base 4 which is provided with verdesired position. r

The foregoing disclosure is mademerely by way of example and is not to be construed in a limiting sense since the invention may have numerous modifications and variations within the scope of the appended claims.

What! claim is:

1. In an article of the class described, an openended case formed of sheet material, reinforcing flaps joined to said material at the open end of said case, and folded to overlap the margins thereof, and a metallic border channel-shaped in cross section having the channel of said border fitting. said open end and engaging certain of the folded reinforcing flaps, certain of the flanges of said border having portions extending inwardly beyond the free edges of said flaps and being reversely bent on themselves for abutting the free edges of certain of said flaps in end-to-end relation to lock the border on the case.

2. In combination with an open-ended receptacle formed of sheet material and having certain of the margins of said open end folded back parallel to the sides of said receptacle, a metallic border engaging certain of the sides and folds of said receptacle to hold the receptacle in assembled position, saidborder having a channel-shaped cross section, the inside flange of which has an inwardly folded forwardly extending portion substantially shorter than said flange and parallel to it, the free edge of said portion abutting the free edge of said folded back margins of the receptacle.

8. In combination with an open-ended filing casing, a metallic border for said open'end, said border having two channel-shaped vertical portions each joined at an end thereof by a channelshaped horizontal portion, a T-shaped reinforcing piece at each junction of said vertical portions and said horizontal portion, each piece having one extension attached to one of said vertical portions and a second extension attached to said horizontal portion, each of said pieces having a third extension projecting in the direction of the vertical portion andextending beyond the horizontal: portion for interlocking with the vertical portions of the border of a second casing in vertical alineinent with said first-mentioned casing.

4. In combination with an open-ended filing casing, a metallic border for said open end, said border having two channel-shaped vertical portions joined by'a channel-shaped horizontal portion, the junction of said vertical portions and said horizontal portion each being reinforced by a to said horizontal portion; each of said pieceshaving a third extension projecting in the direction of the vertical portion and extending beyond the horizontal portion for interlocking with the vertical portion of the border of a second casing in vertical alinernent with said first mentioned casing, and each vertical portion at the end thereof remote from said junction having a short metallic toot extending in a direction parallel to that of the horizontal portion.

, 5. In combination with an open-ended filing casing, a metallic border for said open end, said border having two channel-shaped vertical portions joined by a channel-shaped horizontal portion, each of the junctions of said vertical portions and said horizontal portion being reinforced by a 'metal piece joined to said portions, each of said metallic pieces having an extension projecting in the direction of the vertical portions and extending beyond the horizontal portion for interlocking with the vertical portion of the border of a second casing in vertical alinement with said first mentioned casing, and each vertical portion having a metallic toot extending in a direction parallel to that of the horizontal portion, the edge of each foot being set back from a face of its related vertical portion to define a slot for receiving the projecting extensions on a similar border of a casing in vertical alinement with said first mentioned casing.

EDWIN S. ROSCOE. 

